Nairobi: A mother and her four-year-old child last night perished in an accident at Korrompoi junction along the Nairobi-Namanga highway.
According to Kenya News Agency, Isinya Sub County Police Commander Simon Lokitari reported that a motorcycle operator carrying the mother, Lucy Mwikali, and her child collided with a Canter truck. Tragically, both the mother and child died on the spot.
The motorcycle driver fled the scene, disappearing into the crowd, and remains at large. In the aftermath, a crowd attacked the Canter driver, inflicting serious head injuries. The crowd then vandalized the lorry, stole the 'chokaa' it was carrying, and set the vehicle ablaze.
Traffic officers from Kitengela and Isinya, along with the Sub County Police Commander, responded to the scene. They attempted to negotiate with the residents to allow the removal of the bodies, but the residents refused, prompting the use of teargas to disperse the crowd.
Eventually, order was restored, and the bodies were taken to Shalom Community Hospital Mortuary at the request of neighbors familiar with the victims. The incident led to a four-hour traffic jam on the highway.
In response to the tragedy, area residents are urging the Kenya National Highways Authority to install speed bumps on this section of the road, citing frequent speeding by vehicles as a cause of accidents. Lokitari mentioned that relevant government authorities are investigating the accident.